WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL
© LAURA PATTERSON DESIGN
Spring Hop into spring and embrace the sights and sounds of the pine-scented forest emerging from its snowy winter wrap. We promise that outdoor fun doesn’t melt with the snow: springtime forests come alive with birds chirping and kaleidoscopes of wildflowers blooming alongside alpine and lakeside walking, hiking and biking trails. Bring your tackle because springtime’s ideal conditions bring in the big catches! Trout and bass gulp just about anything in their paths after the long winter’s rest, making for great fishing for everyone from tykes to seasoned fishermen. For a little adventure, try off-roading on a guided jeep tour to the spectacular and historic backcountry. Hear stories about the gold-mining days and see how early Californians lived in the high country.
© iSTOCKPHOTO
Spring
© ROB WHIPPLE
Hands down, Big Bear’s unparalleled trails and terrain parks at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are havens for skiers and snowboarders. Between the two resorts enjoy 435 skiable acres, 26 lifts, four high-speed chairs, and more than 200 terrain features to ski or ride. But there’s more to Big Bear than its top-quality slopes. Strap on a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis and venture into the snow-flocked forest, where you’ll brake only for the occasional squirrel crossing! In the Village, browse quaint boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops, then warm up with a mug of hot cocoa inside a cozy diner. Join the kids for classic winter fun sledding or tubing at designated snow play areas. Free your inner child making snow angels or building a snowman in front of your cabin. When the sun goes down, cozy up to a toasty fire as a fresh snowfall silently blankets the sleeping town.
Summer’s the time to chill out and soak up Big Bear Lake’s endless summer fun at its seven-mile lake, which features classic to cutting-edge aquatic sports. From kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and parasailing to jet skiing and wakeboarding to lazy pontoon rides and supervised children’s swimming, water fun abounds. Thrill seekers soon discover that Big Bear’s unique New Zealand-style Jet Boat rivals any theme park’s roller coaster. For an even milder, easy-breezy lake activity, come aboard the pirate ship or the paddlewheeler for a narrated tour of the history, Hollywood movie sets and celebrity homes of Big Bear, or catch a slow ride on the Scenic Sky Chair from the forest floor to the top of Snow Summit to treat your eyes to spectacular panoramic views. Hop back on the chair for the return ride, hike down, or venture out to mountain bike the trails. If kicking back is your style, long summer days are anything but boring in Big Bear Lake. Nearly every week, concerts, festivals, car shows, and friendly outdoor competitions are held. If you’re pining for solitude though, head into the woods for a romantic picnic under the forest canopy, or relive our historic Old West on a sunset horseback ride.
Summer
Fall As Big Bear’s summer colors transform into russet hues, the air sharpens to crisp nights and golden days. Amid the vibrant evergreen trees are oaks, cottonwoods and aspens splashed in brilliant amber, yellow and pumpkincolored leaves. Bring your camera to capture autumn’s blazing beauty. The lake continues as the main attraction with fishing and boating activities. Rent a pontoon or let a fishing guide handle the messy work while you focus on reeling in plump trout and bass. Harvest time in Big Bear means picking from a bounty of fall festivities. The annual Oktoberfest kicks up a lively mood with brew, brats, competitions and dancing fun for the entire family. At the Moonridge Animal Park, Big Bear’s own alpine zoo takes visitors on exclusive nightime Flashlight Safari tours of the animals’ world in the dark. 2012 OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE
© SCOTT HOFFMAN
© TIM WOLCOTT
Winter
Summer
Fall
© DENNIS BENTSON
J
ust 99 miles east of Los Angeles, our alpine island in the sky enjoys four distinct seasons, each offering an entirely new experience whenever you visit. Immerse yourself in the pleasures of vibrant autumn leaves, crystalline winter snows, rainbows of springtime wildflowers and the lake shimmering in summer as each season’s adventures delight.
Winter
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